Regardless of we are fighting a war in Europe or the South China seas you need the ability to transport personnel & equipment. With no more Atlas aircraft ordered this is a huge reduction of our transport fleet.
The RAF has 1 xVoyager & 1 x Atlas based in the Falklands which has cut the number of transports available, how much cheaper would if have been if 3? Hercules had refuelling capability with the ability to conduct maritime patrol around the Falklands? but with the restrictions on RAF refuelling operations created by the Airtanker contract that would never happen.